Dylan Matthew Schmidt (born 7 January 1997)[2] is a New Zealandtrampoline gymnast. He competed at the2016 Summer Olympics and finished in seventh place. He was New Zealand's first athlete to compete in trampoline at the Olympic Games. At the2020 Summer Olympics, he won the bronze medal and became New Zealand's first Olympic medallist in any gymnastics discipline. He became the individual trampoline world champion at the2022 Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships and is New Zealand's first world champion in men's trampoline. He won the gold medal in the individual event at the2014 Summer Youth Olympics.
Schmidt was born on 7 January 1997 inSouthport, Queensland.[1] He began trampoline when he was five years old inTe Anau because his older brother and sister were both already training in trampoline.[3][4] His sisterRachel Schmidt and brother Callum Schmidt have both also competed internationally in trampolining.[5][6] His mother drove all three siblings fromWaihi toAuckland every day for trampoline practice.[7]
Schmidt struggled with knee and groin injuries throughout the 2017 season.[16] He finished fourth in the individual event at the 2017 Loule World Cup.[17] He then competed at the Sofia World Cup where he won the silver medal behind China'sTu Xiao.[18] He finished twentieth in the semifinals at the2017 World Championships.[19]
When Schmidt was not able to train in the gym due toCOVID-19 restrictions in New Zealand, he trained basic skills on a trampoline in his garden in order to stay in shape.[25]
At the 2022 Rimini World Cup, Schmidt qualified for the individual final in first place. However, he landed his second somersault on the edge of the trampoline and had to conclude his routine early, finishing in last place.[31] At the Coimbra World Cup, he won the gold medal in synchro with Reegan Laidlaw.[32] At the2022 World Championships inSofia, Schmidt qualified for the individual final in first place.[33] He then won the gold medal in the individual event by over two points ahead of France'sAllan Morante.[34] This was New Zealand's first world title in men's trampoline, and the first time since 2007 that a non-Chinese male athlete won the title.[35][36]
Schmidt finished third in the individual event at the Santarem World Cup.[37] Then at the Palm Beach World Cup, he won the silver medal behind China'sWang Zisai.[38] He only finished 14th in the qualification round at the Varna World Cup and did not advance into the final.[39] At theWorld Championships, he came off the trampoline during the qualification round and still advanced to the semi-finals,[40] but he was eliminated in the semi-finals.[41]
Schmidt was a castaway onthe 2022 series of the New Zealand reality television showCelebrity Treasure Island.[44] He was eliminated in episode 15 but won $10,000 for Special Olympics New Zealand.[45]
Outside of gymnastics, Schmidt enjoys hunting, fishing, and playing golf.[1] As an ambassador for theNew Zealand Olympic Committee, Schmidt travels to schools around the country to share his story.[1] He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from theUniversity of Auckland.[46] As of 2024, he is dating fellow trampoline gymnastMaddie Davidson.[47]
